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LOUISVILLE URBAN VOICE

Education
Monica Hardin symbolizes the essence of the program’s mission. She graduated from Assumption High School in 2000. She is a Senator McConnel Scholar who is now enrolled at the University of Louisville and plans to major in political science and communications. She also plans to get a law degree. She is a Harlan Scholar. Only ten of the top students in the state are chosen for this honor. Her aspired vocation is that of talk show host. She wants to focus on positive programming, highlighting what young Americans are doing and expose the movers and shakers of her generation.

Community Service
Monica is involved in prison ministries, and she sings gospel music. Her platform during her reign as Miss Kentucky is to be an advocate for the National Youth Network. The network has 20 different service organizations across America. She is heavily involved with the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. She is the host of Posted Up a call in radio show on WLOU 13.50 AM. The show is geared toward teenagers, and holds frank discussions about current issues.

Some encouraged Monica to wait before running for Miss America, but she feels, “It is no accident that God put this dream in my heart! It is my time to shine. Many people do not succeed because they do not have faith. I was speaking to some young people and a little girl came up to me and asked if I were rich. At that time, I realized that I had a responsibility to tell my story. My mom is blind, and my dad is janitor, we were rich with love even if we didn’t have a lot of money,” she said. Monica is the older of two children. “My brother and I had to learn things that most kids don’t have to think about. We had to help my mom cook and make sure that a fire did not start,” she said. Her brother called the fire department when a fire broke out while his mother was cooking. He was in the first grade.  They learned to work together and now her 16-year olf, bright and talented brother is extremely proud of her big sister. "My brother is my heart. He is so sweet. He never complains. He is there always to help me and my parents.

Monica has etched out her future with utensils of love, peace and faith passed down to her by her parents. On August 14, 2001, Monica recieved the Distinguished Citizen Award, from the Mayor's office Her parents recieved the Certificate of Merit from the Board of Alderman, to recognize their commitment to rearing a good citizen.

There have also been some nice 'perks' that go along with being Miss Kentucky. For example, Monica received a luxury apartment, (rent-free) in Lexington for one year. She was given a 2002 Ford Explorer, $12,000 in cash and scholarships. She received certificates from major department stores, totalling over $3000.

She got a membership and personal training from the Lexington Athletic Club. She gets her nails, hair and toes done free. All her dry cleaning is done free. When she does public speaking, there are certain stores that furnish her wardrobe. When she won the Ms. Jeffersontown Preliminary, she won $4200. There are also numerous scholarships available to her. She gets all this and the right to wear a crown. Monica often says there is power in the crown and judging from that list of perks, she is right.

We all can learn a lesson from this young woman’s success. She has achieved her goals by giving back, accepting responsibility, and keeping the faith. Often people allow circumstances to prevent them from accomplishing goals. This young lady is to be commended for overcoming obstacles she faced and staying focused on her crown. It is a time for celebration anytime a young person recognizes that they can make a difference by making goals and persevering until they are accomplished.

LUV magazine wishes Monica all the best. She can go to the Miss America Pageant knowing Kentucky is rooting for her all the way. And when she comes back, with or without another crown, we got much LUV waiting! No pun intended.

Wanda Johnson Hall, LUV Columnist